FE in Diriyah: Sam Bird fastest in first free practice

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Formula E FP1 summary in Diriyah
26 January 2023 at 15:43
Last update 26 January 2023 at 16:11
  • GPblog.com

A new Formula E weekend begins today, this time in Diriyah. Although round two takes place today and tomorrow, round three also takes place in the Saudi Arabian city on Saturday and Sunday next. Round two just kicked off with the first free practice with Jaguar TCS Racing's Sam Bird coming out fastest.

There was a lot of sliding on the track as it was rainy - there were, however, no crazy crashes. Only NEOM McLaren driver René Rast experienced damage to his front wing early in the session and had to go back into the pits after crashing into the back of Vandoorne's DS.

Current championship leader Jake Dennis secured the tenth fastest time in his Andretti. Sam Bird eventually managed to hammer in the fastest time of all, followed by Jean-Eric Vergne and Mitch Evans respectively. Stoffel Vandoorne finished with a fourth time, making Jaguar and DS Penske the fastest teams today. It was tight today, as the top eighteen finished within a second of each other. 

Kelvin van der Linde

Kelvin van der Linde replaced Dutchman Robin Frijns at both rounds two and three in Diriyah this weekend after the latter broke his hand during the Mexico ePrix. The South African, who has never driven a single-seater during an official session before today, unfortunately, finished with the slowest time in his ABT during the first free practice session.